Bullards Beach State Park sits on the north side of the Coquille River mouth, about 3 miles north of Bandon, where the Coquille River meets the Pacific Ocean, dropping a steady load of gravel, cobbles, and sand at the shoreline.

The park is well-developed, easy to navigate, and great for a full day outdoors.

Most of the coastal side of the park is sand and dunes, so classic “beach rockhounding” can be slow. You can still find a few pieces of agates after big winter storms, especially during very low tides, but that’s not where you should spend most of your time if your goal is to find a variety of interesting rocks.

Instead, I aim for the Coquille River mouth gravel bars, roughly 1.5 miles inland from the north jetty and about 0.5 miles from the Bullards Beach State Park parking area.

Bullards Beach Rockhounding - Coquille River Gravel Bars

Gravel bars near the mouth of the Coquille River offer productive rockhounding year-round, as the river continually delivers material from the Oregon Coast Range. Ever-shifting tides then move the sand and gravel around, gradually exposing hidden rocks and minerals along the bars.

The best time to visit the spot is after winter king tides, when the greatest variety of material is typically uncovered. However, our August visit was also very productive.

A wide range of specimens can be found here, including petrified wood, jasper, agate, quartz, and marine fossils.

Petrified wood is usually gray and brown, sometimes with reddish hues. Many pieces are highly mineralized, making them excellent candidates for polishing or tumbling.

Jasper is abundant and shows a variety of colors, including red, yellow, green, and brown, often with attractive mixed patterns. Some pieces are brecciated with white quartz, which makes them especially appealing for polishing.

You can also find milky quartz and clear agates with banding and interesting patterns. Marine fossils are plentiful as well, most often appearing as scattered mollusk and bivalve fragments throughout the gravel bars.

Bullards Beach State Park, with Bullards Beach, is full of other adventures. It’s one of those Oregon parks where you can build a whole day, even if you only rockhound for an hour or two.

The Coquille River Lighthouse is the must-see bonus. It’s a unique historic destination right in the park.

The Old Town Bandon is several blocks of shops, galleries, restaurants, and cafes sitting between the harbor and hills. A waterfront is an inviting place for a causal walk and it also attracts anglers and crabbers enjoying their pastime right from the city docks.

Kronenberg Beach (Coquille Point Beach) nearby is another sandy shoreline with numerous spectacular sea stacks dotted along the coastline.

Face Rock State Scenic Viewpoint is a dramatic sea stack, and an iconic view in Bandon is 6 miles south.

Bullards Beach State Park has the largest campground on the Oregon Coast. The campground is sheltered from strong ocean winds and shaded by a serene shore-pine forest. It has over 200 campsites, including full-hookup sites, electrical-with-water sites, yurts, horse camps, and hiker/biker camps.

Six campsites and three yurts are accessible for individuals with disabilities.

The campground is open year-round, and reservations can be made up to 6 months in advance through the Oregon State Parks reservation system.

If you want more comfortable accommodations, Bandon, just a couple of miles south, has plenty of lodging options.

Lodging in Bandon

Affordable vacation rentals for short and long term stay in Bandon